News and links 9-30-08

• One more venue to follow the pros: universalsports.com (via Belgium Knee Warmers).
• The Sears Tower new bike sharing program: "It's very easy, and it's often quicker," said Dempsey, who's not afraid to bike in a suit. "We find it to be a great convenience to our tenants." Read the article in the Sun Times. (Via CBF.)
• Factories are miracle places. Raw, ugly materials come in, get through complicated machines, and come out turned into elaborate objects. I still remember when I was a little kid and visited my dad's yarn factory. The giant, noisy machines torsioned and pulled the raw fibers at a maddening pace, and yet managed to produce the most delicate yarn. All amid the scent of cotton, wool or synthetic fibers, mixed with the intense odour of lubricating oil. The same characteristic smell that my dad would bring home on his clothes. All these memories were coming back as I was watching this 15-min movie about Brooks, the English maker of saddles. Plus, it has increased my appreciation for such a fine product. (Not that Brooks is my style at all, but still.) (Via Cyclelicious.):

  The company was started in 1866 as a leather trading company. In 1878, the company founder and president, J.B. Brooks, was riding his horse to work when the horse died. He couldn't afford a new horse, so he borrowed a friend's bicycle to get around and was immediately horrified at the uncomfortable saddle. He created the B-1, the B-2 and then finally the B-17 was introduced in the 1890s. The B-17 is now the oldest saddle design still in production.
  
  Brooks uses only British cows (yes, they really said that in the video) to ensure the highest quality, consistent thickness and the "finish we require." The saddles are assembled by hand in their ancient factory in England; they even drive the copper rivets in with hand held hammers and polish the finished saddles by hand.

  
  
• Check out the preview of the sexy "Ladies of Team Pegasus 2009 Calendar." I think I really want one of those (calendars, I mean).

This is a Pin I could ride (and actually afford)

This is the FP3, which in 2009 replaces the FP5. The picture shows the orange version, although as you can see the amount of orange is kept to a minimum. It also comes in white, blue, red and pink.



Specs:

# Frameset: Pinarello FP3 Full Carbon 12K
# Fork: Pinarello FP3 Full Carbon 12K
# Brakes: Shimano Ultegra
# Shifters: Shimano Dura Ace 2008
# Crank: M.O.s.t. Lynx CE Megan
# Front Deraileur: Shimano Dura Ace 2008
# Rear Deraileur: Shimano Dura Ace 2008
# Cassette: Shimano Ultegra
# Chain: Shimano Ultegra
# Headset: Pinarello
# Stem: M.O.s.t. Tigermax 3K carbon painted stem
# Handlebar: M.O.s.t. Xylon aluminum painted
# Seatpost: M.O.s.t. Tail C-Alu painted seatpost
# Saddle: M.O.s.t. Leopard
# Wheels: M.O.s.t. Chall
# Tires: Continental Ultra Sport 700x23 Pinarello

So it's a mix of DA, Ultegra and M.O.s.t., Pinarello's own line of componentry. Of course I'd prefer a different choice of wheels, stem, seatpost, headset, etc.

The frame is the 30HM12K, i.e. the less expensive version of the Prince's 50HM1K. The bike costs $3,800 as it is, and it weights 17.3lbs. The Prince's frame weighs about 200 grams less than the FP3's, but costs $5,500, just for the frame and fork.

Odd stuff from Interbike

• Velocity goes nuts with the graphics (via Bike Rumor).
  
• Bikes made of bamboo (via Bike Rumor).
• Somebody had a turtlehead of an idea (via Bike Rumor).
• The people who brought us the egg beaters re-invent the wheel (via Bike Rumor).
• Is this frame UCI-legal? (by Ron Cook, M-3, Project 5).
  

Lance Armstrong can help fix the financial system...

...after he saves the world from cancer.

Well, not quite. Lehman Brothers, the investment bank that recently went bankrupt amid the turmoil in the financial markets, bought 40% of SRAM in August. Due to Lance's mass appeal, the bank invited him to participate in the deal, which he did, investing several million dollars into SRAM. (By the way, this means that every time you buy SRAM components you are putting a few dimes in Lance's pockets. I'll let you decide whether that's a good or a bad thing.)

All this happened well before anybody knew that Lance was coming back, and also before Lehman went down. But SRAM was already the provider of gruppos for Astana. Had Lance already decided, back in August, that he'd return to pro racing? Lehman, of course, should be really happy about his return, since a racing Lance will boost SRAM's business much more than a retired Lance. But Armstrong will be doing pretty good for himself too, since he owns part of SRAM. Will he?

SRAM will reach sales of around $500 million this year. I don't know what the margins in this industry are, but I'm going to assume that SRAM can make $25 million in net profits. (I'll do a reality check of this assumption if I can get data somewhere.) Suppose that Lance owns a 1% of SRAM. That would have cost him $5mm in August, since Lehman paid $200mm for a 40%, so it seems reasonable. (I also happen to know that Lance's stake in Trek is around 1%.) That leaves him with $250K in income from dividends or retained earnings. That's before the "Lance effect," which most likely will boost SRAM's sales and profits. Sales have been growing at 15-20% in the past, so they will increase at least as much in the medium term. In any case, under a million over the next one or two years. A very nice little something for most of us mortals but nothing to write home about for a super-star.

* * *

On a related topic, Contador mustn't be sleeping very well these days--both he and Armstrong, now teammates in Astana, are going for the Tour in 2009. If you ask me, I'd say that Lance should just create his own team. He can take Bruyneel and the old teammates who are now racing for Astana, and just leave Contador and Astana alone. After all, Lance doesn't want money, right? It shouldn't be difficult to find a sponsor who can pony up the salaries of his teammates. Regardless of what happens, Leipheimer is in a difficult spot. He's too good, too old and too proud to work as domestique for anyone, and he should find a new home where he, finally, can wear the pants.

Cyclingnews article.

WSJ article:

Lehman's a Fan of Lance (Wall Street Journal, 9/25/2008)

by Peter Lattman

Here's one unexpected fan cheering Lance Armstrong's return to professional cycling: Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

The collapsed investment bank recently agreed to make a large investment in a high-end bicycle-components maker. That manufacturer stands to benefit from Mr. Armstrong's plan, announced Wednesday, to join a Kazakhstan-based racing team next year.

Team Astana uses components made by a Chicago company called SRAM Corp. That is big news in the cycling world, given that Mr. Armstrong spent much of his career using gears, brakes and other components made by Shimano Inc. of Japan.
[Lance Armstrong, speaking Wednesday at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, where he also announced that he is switching teams - and bicycle components - to the delight of Lehman Brothers.] Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Lance Armstrong, speaking Wednesday at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, where he also announced that he is switching teams -- and bicycle components -- to the delight of Lehman Brothers.

It is a jolt of good news for Lehman, whose private-equity arm, Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking, struck a deal last month to buy 40% of the company for about $200 million. With its parent in Chapter 11 bankruptcy-court protection, the unit is scrambling to close the deal. Charlie Moore, a managing director of Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking, said he is confident it will close the first week of October.

Mr. Armstrong is investing several million dollars into SRAM, where he will serve as a technical adviser. He has agreed to use SRAM components when he races. A full set of top-of-the-line SRAM road-bike components retails for about $2,000.

The competition for a stake in SRAM had been hotly contested, with about 20 private-equity firms -- including Bear Stearns Merchant Banking, TA Associates Inc. and Carlyle Group LLC -- taking a close look at the company.

Lehman's private-equity team had a unique angle on the deal. The head of the unit, Charlie Ayers, had met Mr. Armstrong in the summer of 2007 at a Rolling Stones concert in Rome they were attending with a mutual friend. When Lehman started looking at SRAM, Mr. Ayers emailed Mr. Armstrong asking if he would be interested in helping Lehman take a look at the company.

As the sales process progressed, Lehman offered Mr. Armstrong an opportunity to co-invest. They also discussed ways to expand Mr. Armstrong's role, at which point Lehman introduced Mr. Armstrong to SRAM's co-founder and Chief Executive Stan Day.

Mr. Day said his choosing Lehman as a partner had little, if anything, to do with Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Day said he was initially wary of Mr. Armstrong's involvement, because the seven-time Tour de France winner had long used Shimano's components, and Mr. Day thought it would be awkward to have him as an investor. Shimano is more than twice the size of SRAM, which is expected to generate roughly $500 million in revenue this year.

But earlier this month, Mr. Armstrong surprised the cycling world -- and SRAM and Lehman Brothers -- when he announced that he will come out of retirement and return to competition.

"The funny thing, when we did the deal with Lance we were unaware that he was planning to return to competitive cycling," said Lehman's Mr. Moore. "It's serendipitous."

Now that Mr. Armstrong is returning to the sport and making the switch to SRAM components, Mr. Day is thrilled to have him on board. "You've got the former world's best coming back and switching components," said Mr. Day. "What a vote of confidence."

Whether Mr. Armstrong can return to his victorious ways is another issue. At a news conference Wednesday, Mr. Armstrong was circumspect about his prospects. "Honestly, I don't know. I've been off the bike three years," said the 37-year-old Mr. Armstrong. " I have a fair bit of confidence, but I don't have that kind of confidence, yet."

Write to Peter Lattman at peter.lattman@wsj.com

This weekend's events

Aside from the obvious choice (Fall Fling), there is two days of CX racing up in Sun Prairie, WI, which is part of the Wisconsin Cyclocross Cup. No Chicago Cross Cup this weekend.

Take that, Mr. Annoying Spectator!!

(The cyclist is Juan Antonio Flecha. Hat tip to June Upshaw.)

CX 101 on video: tires

From watching cyclists prepare their bikes at Jackson Park, I can tell that tire pressure is more important in cyclocross than it is in road racing. Let's hear what Mickey Denoncourt has to say:

-How to adjust cyclocross clincher tire pressure

-How to adjust cyclocross tubular tire pressure

Aside from tire pressure, bike tread may play an important role under extreme conditions:

-How to select a cyclocross bike tire tread

A few words on why you should keep a spare set of tires:

-Why you should have a spare set of tires

Jackson Park

The first event of the Chicago Cross Cup seems to have left everyone happy and hungry for more. The race didn't quite fit the epic image I have of cyclocross: treacherous courses, clammy weather and rugged riders doing their best to survive. Instead, we had sun, heat and grass--which I guess is not the end of the world. I had a pretty good time as spectator, and I'm pretty sure I speak for everyone when I send this message to XXX Racing: THANK YOU for putting on this event, one more time.

Provisional results are now posted on the race's website.

Kevin Clark (M-3, Half Acre) DNFed due to a little, er..., contact-point issue: " I could've castrated myself if I'd kept racing..." The good news is "I will be fully prepared by the beginning of next month... both me and my equipment. Word."

Naz Hamid (M-4, Half Acre): "I take Jeff’s bike out from under him but he’s upright. I get up and what we’re presented with is comical almost. My STI lever has one of his spokes sandwiched between the brake lever and shifter lever. My handlebar is somehow in between his rear wheel and his seat stay. We spend a minute or two trying to untangle, me, sorry, and Jeff saying, “We can do this.” And we do. All it takes is us moving the wheel in reverse, exactly the opposite way it happened. And we’re out. Jeff is off and I’m trying to go but the bike doesn’t move. I lose another minute. My front wheel isn’t moving. What?! My right canti arm is pushed in and the pad has moved past the rim and into the wheel, under the braking surface. I tug as hard as I can while flexing the wheel to the outside left and manage to get the canti arm free."

Erik Didriksen (M-4, XXX) had some problems with his chain, which made him lose position, but that doesn't seem to discourage him: "Before I raced, I wasn't sure if I'd like cyclocross. I found that answer in Jackson Park. :)"

Tamara Fraser (W-4, XXX)/Brenda placed really well for a first timer! She thinks she had a little trouble with the mounts and dismounts. I did see her struggle at the fast barrier and nod her head in frustration, but "Can't wait for the next cross race! In the meantime, lots of practice getting on and off the bike."

Jeff Holland (M-3, XXX) had a very long day, as he was one of the handful of XXX folks who participated in the set-up/tear-down work for the event. He didn't seem very happy with one of his fellow racers: "Not just a bike weave in front of you move, but a full-on, change-of-line, take you out move. Nice, that cost me at least 5 spots 10m into the race. Karma would come back to haunt that guy, as he was taken out of the lead by a mechanical." And yet: "I was pretty happy with my placing given that was my first 3's race and only my third cross race ever."

Avi Neurhor (Masters 30, XXX) got a kick out of beating a lot of guys with his $100 singlespeed. Indeed, he finished 17th in a 35+ field.

Team Tati added some (orange) color to the race, with their orange bikes, orange helmets, and orange argyle socks. Carly Schuster and Sophia Lee placed 6th and 7th, respectively, in the women's 4. Brian Hague, the triathlete/spear-fisherman, won this his first CX race ever--which, by the way, was also the first time he was riding a CX bike. Patrick Myers had major mechanicals, meaning "cranks and seatposts falling off;" otherwise he would have been in the top ten for sure. Tim "Il Pirata" Belton placed 2nd in the Men's 50+. Directeur Sportif J comments: "There was orange argyle. Several Tatitos rode the course on their road bikes. Half of our racers rode borrowed bikes, and at least three had never even sat on a cross bike ten minutes before their start time."

Beverly Bike/Vee Pak: "All in all the day went very well for us. While the DQ for Tony really sucked, it was nice to see him ride an aggressive race and even throw in a bike change. As for myself, I hesitated a bit in passing people at times and had to remind myself not to sit in, sometimes out loud. Elvis and Jim rode strong races and except for a mechanical from Jim finished well. We still need a bit more fine tuning to bump up our finishing positions, but overall I think everyone was satisfied." Apparently Tony was disqualified "because he accepted a hand up of water." I saw worse things at that race.

I think that's all. I you have comments/reviews/links, please chip in in the comments.

Euro Cyclist Club, rules 4-6

4. Legs will be SHAVED year-round. ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS. Certain hair removal creams are endorsed only on a case-by-case basis. One shall never show up to a race (large or small) with ANY AMOUNT of stubble visible on legs.

5. A prominent line where your kit ends and where your tan begins is essential to your image. Artificial tanning is BANNED. The tan SHALL reflect the level of training commitment.

(Here's Belgium Knee Warmers' endorsement of The Tan.)

6. The Socks must extend no less than 2cm below the main bulge of your calf muscle, and shall never extend further than 1cm past the primary calf muscle bulge. All socks SHALL BE WHITE in colour with prominent logo placement.

Tomorrow I'll post a roundup of race reports from Jackson Park.

News and links 9-23-08

• Chris Padfield will switch from pink and black to green and black, after joining Get a Grip. It looks like the GAG guys are gonna have a terrific men's 3 squadra next year. Off the top of my head: Aspen, Chip, Charles and Chris himself. Let's hope Jon gets well soon and can tear it up with the 3's too.
  
• If you don't have the $ for a professional bike fit in a shop (and your team's bike shop doesn't provide them free) this DVD may be useful. (Hat tip to Bike Rumor.)
  
• For those of you going to Worlds in Varese next weekend (or actually any other race you need to fly to), some airlines are not accepting bike boxes bigger than 80 linear inches at all. I repeat: they are not accepting boxes bigger than 80 linear inches at all. Linear dimensions are the sum of box the dimensions (height+width+length). FYI: Most bike boxes are bigger than 80 linear inches. Cyclelicious also lists the fees charged by the airlines to carry a bike or oversized box.

Blogroll

While we wait for people to write up their race reports from Jackson Park, let me share the list of blogs and websites I follow with you. If you have a blog about racing or know of other sites by bicycle racers around Chicago, let me know!

Racers:
-Clark, Kevin (M-5, Half Acre)
-Cook, Ron (M-3, Project 5)
-Coyle, John (M-2, Wolverine)
-Didriksen, Erik (M-4, XXX)
-Donoghue, Liam (M-4, unatt.)
-Dust, Debbie (W-1, Kenda)
-Ebert, Michael (M-1, ABD)
-Erbach, Craig (M-3, Project 5)
-Fraser, Tamara (W-3, XXX)
-Heck, Greg (M-3, XXX)
-Holland, Jeff (M-3, XXX)
-Jaganjac, Emir (M-5, XXX)
-Ludtke, Jason (M-4, Pegasus)
-McVey, Bryan (M-1, VisionQuest)
-Meyer, Seth (M-1, XXX)
-Meyers, John (M-1, ABD)
-Morrissey, Brian (M-4, XXX)
-Neurohr, Avi (M-5, XXX)
-Padfield, Chris (M-3, PegasusGet a Grip)
-Seemann, Luke (M-3, XXX)
-Upshaw, June (W-1, Verdigris)

Clubs:
-ABD-News
-ABD-Race reports
-Beverly Bike/Vee Pak
-Chicago Cuttin' Crew
-Get a Grip Racing
-Half Acre Racing
-Pegasus Cycling
-Project 5 Racing
-Spidermonkey Cycling
-Tati
-XXX Racing-Race reports
-XXX Racing-News

Not from Chicago:
-Belgium Knee Warmers
-Bike Rumor
-Chicagoland Bicycle Federation
-Cyclelicious
-Cyclingnews.com
-USA Cycling

This weekend's events

My earlier weather forecast will most likely be wrong. It'll probably be sunny and dry for the rest of the week. No mud then at Jackson Park. Smile or cry, whatever you prefer.

A short video from last year's race:


For those disinclined to riding off-road, let me suggest that you join the North Shore Century ride. It starts in Evanston and, if the route hasn't changed, takes you all the way to Kenosha, WI. Food aplenty, friendly riders and pretty roads (some of the time). Part of the route feels like a real estate tour of the north suburbs.

My new cycling club

After watching four or five episodes of Over Drive, I have decided that Shinozaki is a sissy with Asperger syndrome, Yuki is too bi-polar, and Yuki's brother is just sick. If you like the show, however, gorge here.

Now I would like to introduce you to my new cycling club: the Euro Cyclist Club, which I just discovered in Facebook*. Members must adhere to a set of 50+ rules in order to join the select group of Euro cycling divos. With the noble goal of meeting the quota of pointless content of Morning Roll, I will reproduce those rules here, a few at a time.

The rules may not cover every possible aspect of a Euro Cyclist's attire and behavior. When in doubt, ask yourself: "What would Il Bello do?"

********* -THE OFFICIAL EURO CYCLIST CODE OF CONDUCT- *********
(from the Facebook group "THE OFFICIAL EURO CYCLIST CODE OF CONDUCT")

Created by Dom Guiver and Mike Flavell

1. Image and style shall be your primary concern. When suffering, one must focus first on maintaining a cool, even composure, and second on performance. Winning races is an added talent, and only counts if said euro cyclist wins with appropriate style.

2. Training is based solely on feel, while racing is to be guided by sensations and instinct. The Euro Cyclist will never accept tried or tested scientific training methods.

3. You shall NEVER, under any circumstances, wear plain black spandex bibs (shorts, regardless of color, are BANNED) or any team kit containing non-prominent logos. Shorts will extend approximately 2/3rds of the way down the upper leg. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE shall they extend any further! The bib shorts will have a compression band at the bottom, in a different color.

*The Euro Cyclist group is an actual Facebook group. Look it up if you're a Facebook member.

CX 101 on video: CX bicycles

1) What kind of bike is used in CX?

2) Road bike vs CX bike

3) CX gearing

4) Chainrings and chain retention tips

5) CX handlebar width

6) Seat height

7) Handlebar controls

8) Setting up the brakes

9) Tweaking the brakes

10) Tweaking the cable routing

News and links 9-16-08

• Considering that the wet weather is supposed to continue throughout the week in Chicago, it's likely that you guys encounter some MUD at Jackson Park. Some advice from Beverly Bike/Vee Pak:

  Using your front brake in the corners becomes a very bad idea, subtle weight shifts and trusting that your tires will work takes a lot of practice, but the time saved in each corner can be the difference between sprinting out of every corner or simply carrying your speed through it. If you do have to brake when entering a corner, make sure you do so before getting there. Almost any amount of front wheel braking in a wet corner will cause the wheel to wash out. Instead, brake before you get to the corner, lean the bike, weight the outside pedal, then accelerate out of the corner. Following this technique will almost surely keep you upright and in the race.

• A bike-sicle. Notice the orange rear wheel.
  

• Today's Matteson practice crits have been cancelled. There won't be any more practice crits after this week either. A big thanks to the South Wheelmen club for holding this series of training races again this year.
  
• Hypnotize yourself to the top of the podium with this CD, which is endorsed by Leipheimer. No kidding. (Via Bike Rumor.) It's supposed to be the only cycling-specific psychology tool in the market.
• Barcelona will host TWO stages of the Tour de France 2009. The city will be the endpoint of a stage starting in Perpignan Girona, and the beginning of the following stage, which will head towards the Pyrenees. Hmmmm... the pro peloton hanging out in Barcelona, for two days, in July. And I haven't been home for soooo long. Time to book my tickets?
  
• I'm not into downhill MTB at all, but I have to admit that this looks pretty sick:
  

• Do you wanna smell like a Japanese bike messenger lady? Here's the thing for you... (Via cyclelicious.)

(With no racing in sight, I know that I need to fill the "News and links" post with useless stuff, but that last one crossed the line...)

Highs and lows

So it seems that my racing season is over. No cyclocross. In fact no riding at all for a little longer. Time, then, to put together "The Best (and the Worst) Of".

Overall, the season was great thanks to my team. I had a group of people with whom I actually trained and raced. And a directeur sportif. And real sponsors. And practice criteriums at Calumet. And team meetings. Cycling would have been half as fun without Team Tati for me.

The high point

I can't decide. I felt really good at Sherman Park. Usually, in a race, I find myself desperately trying to cling on to the fragile thread that ties me to the wheel in front of me. It's a rare occasion when following that wheel is effortless, but it happened at Sherman Park. It was even better: I felt so well that I got bored and I was compelled to chitchat with people around me--during two different races. I should have tried a flier with half a lap to go.

The second high point was a particular training ride in Willow Springs, at the end of June I think. Matt, Dan, Andrew, Taewon, Bernard, J, and probably a couple of other guys were there. The weather was gorgeous and the guys (and I) went bonkers attacking each other over and over and over. I think the endorphines from that ride still linger in my body.

The low point

My season actually ended on August 6, but I didn't know it back then. A deer crossed the road one Saturday when I was riding with the guys, near Willow Springs too. I braked hard, blocked the front wheel and went over the handlebars, landing on my left side. The low point of the season was the time I spent by the local Seven-Eleven, brooding over the ugly bump on my shoulder, fearing the worst, and waiting for somebody to pick me up. Miserable.

I am very thankful, though, to the guys who took care of me then. Joe bought me some ibuprofen, Sarah got me a baggie to ice my shoulder, Andreas tried to cheer me up, and Jeff and his wife took me home in their car.

The injury wasn't too bad. Just bad enough that a doctor says I have to keep my arm in a sling for six weeks (can you hear my eyes rolling?) and then do some rehab exercises. Just bad enough to keep me off the bike for two months. But I'm supposed to be as good as new once I strengthen my arm and shoulder.

Next season

I will race more, especially road races. This year I missed some due to injury (Whitewater, Oak Brook) and others due to lack of fitness (Spring Prairie).

I will in better condition. By January 1 I will have reached my cycling weight (drop those chips right now, mister!). And I'll ride through the winter, unlike last year. And by early March I will be riding a beautiful, fast, super-light road bike. Well, the new rig is not crucial, but it helps to stay motivated through the winter, doesn't it? Hopefully I'll get some collegiate races in during March with UCVC, and will be ready to roll for Hillsboro-Roubaix. That's the plan.

CX clinic+bike swap+polo

Tomorrow (Saturday 9/13), IIT and Cycle Smithy are hosting a bike swap and a cyclocross tutorial. Both activities start at 9am. The tutorial for beginners goes from 9 through 12, whereas advanced CX riders can polish their skills from 1 through 4. Coach Ben Turner, manager of TIAA-CREF, will lead the sessions.

With no racing in a 200-mile radius around Chicago, I can't imagine a better way to spend a Saturday morning.

They'll also host some three-on-three bike polo, on grass.

Registration closing tonight at nine. Admission to the swap costs five bucks. The CX session costs $45 if you purchase it in advance ($55 at the door). Registration includes lunch and Hammer samples.

CX 101 on video: Racing tips II

1) How to analyze the course

2) Pre-race strategies (eat, drink, warm-up. Mickey is a big fan of coffee too.)

3) Terrain considerations

4) Race tactics

Eddy Merckx returns to professional racing

Tells somebody he doesn't need a team

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon and in an article published on Weekly World News, Eddy Merckx announced that he will return to professional road racing in 2009, including making a run at winning a sixth Tour de France.

“I am happy to announce that after talking with my children, my grandchildren, my grand grandchildren, and especially with my son Axel --himself retired from pro racing in 2007--, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of... err... well, I´m returning for my own glory, what the heck," Merckx said in a statement released Tuesday.

Merckx had an interview with Weekly World News, apparently the only publication who would print this information. He will hold a news conference Sept. 24 in the village of Meensel-Kiezegem, Belgium, to which reporters from around the world are still figuring out how to arrive.

In the Weekly World News article, Merckx also says that he’s “one hundred and four percent” going to compete in the Tour de France next summer and that his age — he is 63 — will not be a factor.

“Look at other athletes," Merckx told the newspaper. "There's that guy... errr... I forgot his name. He´s like, 50, and he won the pétanque gold medal again last year. The woman who won the World Snooker Championships this year was 43. I´m just a couple of years older. Older athletes are performing very well. Ask serious sports physiologists and they’ll tell you that age is bullsh**.”

Merckx has spent the last few years fooling around with singers and other starlets, and hanging out with the stars in the French Riviera.

The now-toothless Cannibal told the newspaper that he decided to return to racing after training and coming in second behind "some dude" at his village training race last month.

Merckx told Weekly World News his return to racing would be with a team run by and composed of exclusively himself. "I don't need no stinkin' managers." His old teammates at Molteni, now in their 60´s and 70´s, excluded themselves from a hypothetical Merckx team saying that they "didn´t think they had another Tour in their legs."

This is a parody of this VeloNews article.

News and links 9-10-08

• Beverly Bike/Vee Pak holds cyclocross practices every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm. I exchanged e-mails with somebody in their team, and he told me that the practices are open to everyone ("The more the merrier.") The course is not far from the expressway

  "We meet at the Dan Ryan Woods Forest Preserve on 87th just west of Damen."

  and it sounds like fun

  "We have created a challenging technical course including barriers, off camber sections, asphalt and a nearly 60 foot climb."

  If you have questions, e-mail them to beverlybike_veepak@yahoo.com.

• The Chainlink is an open network of Chicago cyclists. Check it out and join! The content is mostly related to commuting and recreational riding. Who's gonna start a similar network for Chicago racers? It's really easy with Ning. (Hat tip to K, from Spidermonkey.)
  
  
• If you ever have a traffic accident while riding your bike, contact the law offices of James Freeman:

  The Law Offices of James Freeman
  120 S. State Street, Suite 200
  Chicago, Illinois 60603
  (312) 629-1901
  Fax (800) 619-7319

  He specializes in bike-related accidents. He can usually do something even in hit-and-run cases. Visit his blog.
  
  
• Reports from the ABD TTT championships: Tamara (W-3, XXX), Brian Morrissey (M-4, XXX) and Jeff Holland (M-3, XXX), and Debbie Dust, who writes a review of her teammates' TTT.
  
  
• Report from Junior Nationals by Jessica Prinner (W-3, ABD). She placed third in the ITT and second in the criterium.

La Vuelta in posters, 1979-2007*

*Sorry, I couldn't find the posters for editions prior to 1979.

Click on each thumbnail picture to enlarge.

Less than two weeks now...

If this doesn't get you fired up, nothing will... (Via Beverly Bike-Vee Pak.)
(The image of the guy slapping himself around 0:57 is priceless.)

CX 101 on video: Racing tips I

1) Overall advice about racing

2) How to prepare for a cyclocross race (warm-up)

3) How to start a race

4) How to pace yourself

5) How to pace yourself on a run

6) How to pass people (better on straight sections)

7) How to use the pit

8) How to finish a race (raising your arms, right?)

Vuelta online

Live and free (in Spanish): http://www.justin.tv/mundodeporteonline1

Comments by Carlos de Andrés (mostly) and Perico Delgado (some).

Registration for Fall Fling now open

Registration here.

Road Race: September 27 (worth double points!!!)
Crit #1: September 28
TT: October 4
Crit #2: October 5

From ABD:

The ABD Cycle Club and GEARGRINDER clothing are proud to announce the final details on Illinois final Road event of the 2008 season: the 6th annual Fall Fling! The Fling is a four-race series based on points and features over $9,000 in cash and prizes with $4,000 exclusively for Masters Men and Women over 40!

Riders who register by Sunday, September 21st can race all four races for $80, just $20 each! Registration is available online at Active.com or by mailing in the official Fall Fling waiver.

A change of note for 2008, the series kicks off on Saturday, September 27 with the Westlake Village Road Race rather than the traditional time trial. The Road Race is worth double points in the series and is held on a challenging 8-mile loop west of Rockford, Illinois. Stage two on Sunday, September 28 is Criterium #1 on the Wood Dale North Course. The 10-mile Maple Park Time Trial has now moved to stage three on Saturday, October 4 and gives many riders the opportunity to compare their fitness to their spring results. It all wraps up with the Criterium Finale on Sunday, October 5 and held on the classic Wood Dale South Course.

A special thanks to the Redline Racing Club for their support of ABD and cooperation in helping us to utilize the Wood Dale race courses!

The ABD Cycle Club is one of the Chicago area’s largest cycling clubs. Originally focusing on the development of young and talented riders, the ABD has grown to include riders of all ages and at all ability levels. Today, the ABD works to attract riders to the sport of competitive cycling by offering a variety of grassroots racing events designed to be fun, challenging and easily accessible.

Born out of the cycling culture, GEARGRINDER was launched with a purpose of creating a distinctive line of products for the part of life spent off the bike. Their designs utilize many of the features, technologies and styles found in cycling gear and adapts them in its unique line of casual, lifestyle clothing and accessories. Their mission is to enhance the lives of their customers, fellow riders and the cycling community at large through selling relevant, high quality, ethically-made products, and use the proceeds to support the sport of cycling and organizations that use the bicycle to improve the quality of life for all.

Weekend CX fun

I don't know how important this race is, but the camerawork is professional and the guys look very fast. Plus, it seems to be in Belgium, so it's gotta be good.


And for the sake of gender parity... (This looks insane, I promise.)

Race reports from the Gateway Cup

	"RacerX" of Project5 Racing (Buffalo Grove), got unlucky in St. Louis, breaking his clavicle... His report is rather long, but here's an excerpt:
	Coming out of turn 2 I’m sitting in the middle and riders are moving up on both sides and as the front have slowed. I grab a wheel on the left side and we move up the field; my partner inserts himself back into the main field as we approach turn 3. I’m sitting directly beside the rider he’s jumped in front of as we set up for the left hander (all 4 corners are lefts). I’ve obviously got the inside line, but as we are quickly closing on the corner he’s not moving over and we touch shoulders. I’m not giving an inch either as I start to lean in, maintaining speed and position. In the dark I’d not seen the fact that the crowd barriers were positioned right on the curb and the slant of the land had them slightly angled in toward the course. I realize it’s going to be tight, but damn it I’ve got this line and I’m fully committed. My left shoulder brushes the barrier and for an instant I think “that was close”, but just as quickly I’m down.

Chris Padfield (Pegasus), on the other hand, seems to have had a swell time:

Hello hello! I'm back and mostly decompressed from four days of hot weather and hot racing.

Fortunately for you I don't have the time or patience to churn out full reports for each day. Julian did a great job of capturing each day here.

With a little time and perspective I'm now looking back at these races as a great learning experience. With fields just shy of 150 each day these were without a doubt the fastest and most intense races I've ever been a part of. I was initially disappointed that I never cracked the top ten in any race, which had been a goal going into the weekend, but I finished each race with the pack and is good enough this time around. I can hang, I just need to refine a few things, such as being aggressive and fighting for position.

I now have the confidence that I can hang with 150 dudes blasting around and over whatever course is ahead of them. This was a real trial by fire, with the first night (emphasis on night), being seventh rung of hell hot. I have all the "I've Just Made It To Cat 3" jitters tossed out of me, just in time for winter.

I'm even more motivated now to come back and rock it next season.

Cat 3's, you've been warned.

CX 101 on video: Training techniques

Dismounting, running up a hill, remounting: This sounds like something you would do over and over during a CX race, and it's a skill you can practice even if you don't have a hill nearby.

1) Sprinting drill

Doing double sets is necessary, since you will often find sets of two or three or more consecutive barriers in CX races:

2) Doing double sets

From what I've seen in videos, a good start is a huge advantage in CX races. Practice:

3) How to practice starting

News and links 9-4-08

• Fixed-gear, brakeless bikes in the hands of inexperienced cyclists, riding in traffic, are dangerous. Wow, who would have thought...? From the Chicago Tribune.

• Garmin/Chipotle riders will ride Felt bikes at least till 2011 (via Bike Rumor).

• If you happen to roll by Friederichshafen, Germany, this week, check out Eurobike, the self-proclaimed largest bike show in the world (via cyclelicious).

• From San Pietro di Stabio: Assos of Switzerland launches Assos North America. In an effort to improve distribution, Assos is hiring its own sales representatives and marketing staff, and is opening a warehouse facility in the U.S. Up until now, Assos was distributed by Illinois-based Ochsner International, Inc. Continue reading here.

• Half Acre Cycling's T-shirts ("The race, the ride and the fury") are now available to everyone.

Over Drive, episode 2

Shinozaki's riding skills improve dramatically: He goes from being unable to ride a bike to bunnyhopping a motorcycle. He also wins his first "prime," a headband, which he promises to keep till the end of his days. Shinozaki asks his sweetheart Yuki to go on a ride with him, on the same bike, once he becomes the best rider in the world. Yuki doesn't mind... until Shinozaki explains that he'd like her to wear a bikini for the occasion.

1/3


2/3


3/3

A race report from West Lafayette RR

	Brian Boyle (M-3, XXX Racing)
	No Haikus or Sufi love poetry or conversations with you tube links. Though I hope you enjoy them. Myself, Brian Smith and Jason Sutherland, resident of Gary did the West Lafayette RR (Men’s 3/4). Our race was 48 miles. A six mile ride to the laps. The laps were a rectangle all right hands with a hill. Brian and Brian did a lot of talk on strategy. We know Jason as a strong rider from the NWI group rides and Matteson. Jason was a very accomplished junior who is coming back into competitive cycling. Our thoughts were similar to last week at Rum Village - BB sets tempo and chases and does a lead out for Brian. Jason we would give the freedom to help, be helped by us, race a good race, see what he could do. Well - I did my usual stuff en masse if that is the right way to put it. Jason did a flyer, BB did a flyer and Brian also did a flyer. The course suited a pack finish......with the exception of one four pack break, it looked like a pack finish. With 2 miles or so left in the 3rd lap, I went to the front to pull, nobody pulled thru and there I went....off the front. I held a large gap to varying degrees. A solo bridge to me from Sam of new United South Shore Racing (Lake and Porter County team). Continue reading here.

About

Contact: morningrollblog [at] gmail [dot] com

I am a cat4 road racer, pedaling in Chicago, IL, USA. I am a member of both Team Tati and the University of Chicago Velo Club.

As of today (Sept. 3, 2008), I haven't decided what Morning Roll should be about. There are too many things I'm interested in: cycling gear, races around Chicago, pro racing, gossiping about the pros, etc., etc.

If I should put my eyes where I want my bike to go, as they say, then this blog should focus on amateur racing, specifically in the Chicago area. We'll see.

And why "Morning Roll"? A morning roll is

1. The reason why I get up at 5.30am, as in "Let's meet up at the bike shop at 6 for a morning roll."


2. The hypercaloric pastry that I am allowed to eat after it, as in "Let's stop at BonJour Bakery for a morning roll."

CX 101 on video: On-the-bike skills III

1) Tips for riding steep climbs

2) Riding off-cambers

3) How to race in mud

4) How to race in sand

How to clean white handlebar tape

Method 1: Light lemon furniture polish (any brand). Spray on bar tape, and wipe it with a clean terrycloth towel, in the direction of the tape wrapping.

Method 2: (Part of a complete bike wash.) Mix blue Dawn (1 tbsp) with 1 quart of warm water. Wash your bike with it.



Hat tip to K., at spidermonkey.

News and links 9-2-08

• Team Tati has now published its roster. Also, check out their wicked carbon team bikes here, here and here.
• Did you know that Christian Vande Velde's mother works at the University of Chicago Lab Schools? Wouldn't it be sweet to see him at Monsters of the Midway? Even if it's just to say hi and sign autographs? (Hat tip to Joe Kallo.)
  
• The CX Bible? Another CX textbook. Available soon for $20. (Hat tip to Mike Pechnyo-Team Judson and to Aspen.)
• As I roll down the slippery slope of cycloblogging, I keep discovering cool websites. BikeRumor is mostly about bikes and cycling gear. Cyclelicious is a more eclectic "journal of bicycle culture," with links to and posts pictures of all sorts of singular stuff. Bikecommuters... well, the name says it all, but it puts the emphasis on bike gear and bike safety.
  
• If you wanna keep up with the cyclocross scene in the midwest, madcross.org is a must-read. Well stocked with racing calendars, race reports, and educational material for novice CXers (like me).
  
• So you think you're green 'cause you ride to work? Well, you haven't gone the whole nine yards until you ride a recyclable rig. An industrial designer in California has created a frame made of reinforced and unreinforced recyclable polypropylene (i.e. plastic). Plastic? Won't it break? Maybe..., but then you can throw it in the blue trash cans... (From Bikecommuters.)

Campy Super Record

From BikeRumor:

While the attention seems to be paid mostly to the fact that there’s now an extra cog on the cassette, my opinion is the bulk of the technology and ergonomic efforts went into the shifters. Resting your hands on them is exceedingly comfortable and positioning is intuitive and relaxed. The new brake levers have a repositioned pivot and dual curves to make them easier to operate from both the hoods and the drops. The rubber used on the hoods is softer where your palms are, and firmer where your fingers grip. Additionally, they curve inward slightly, making them more tailored to a natural hand position than previous generations.

Drool over these close-up pics of the Eighth Wonder of the World. Apparently, some stores are getting early sets and building bikes with them (but not selling them).

This week around Chicago... 9-1-08